Nevada may not give you that cabin-in-the -woods feel many imagine they’ll settle into when writing the great American novel, but isn’t that a little predictable anyway?
If you have something to say, or just something you need to purge from your soul, your apartment becomes your cabin and the neon signs that shine in through your window will stand in for the trees just fine. Writers write. It doesn’t matter where. What matters is that you type into existence the world and the characters you need to create, that you give life to your ideas, and that you never stop until the work is done.
You might feel like you’re the only person in Reno or Vegas who’s doing the work of being a writer. But there are plenty others out there, in apartments just like yours, writing because they have to. And like you, the most serious among them are starting to consider their options for earning a degree in creative writing.
Deborah Coonts Might Not Be the Author’s Author, But She Knew How to Move Books
Who’s Deborah Coonts? She’s not only a novelist from Las Vegas, but also a former lawyer who practiced in Texas in the ‘90s. Oh, and she has her commercial pilot’s license. She’s also the author of a hilarious best-selling series about a customer relations professional at a Las Vegas casino.
In her first book, Coonts’ titular character, Lucky, navigates the annual award ceremony for the adult film industry, a spouse-swapping convention, and an electronics trade show to figure out if a woman who fell to her death in the middle of a pirate show did so of her own volition. Coonts is well aware of how ridiculous Las Vegas is, and made a very successful writing career out of playfully riffing on the absurdity.
Critique is healthy, especially for writers. If you think the greats haven’t thrown out a story, you’re wrong. Every writer does. Sometimes, what you put out there just isn’t that good. Your time in a creative writing degree program will help you identify which stories you should abandon, adjust, or amplify.
You’re going to receive some scrutiny just getting into a creative writing program, whether a conventional bachelor’s or master’s, or one of the selective BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) or MFA (Master of Fine Arts) programs that turn talented students into published authors. Many of these programs are highly selective, and when you get in, your professors and colleagues won’t shy away from putting your work through the meat grinder. Sometimes it’ll come out the other side glistening. Other times … well, sorry pal. You can accept the result with conditioned skin or paper skin. Better to enter the practice with the former than the latter.
Nevada’s Creative Writing Classes, Courses, and Workshops Can Prepare You for a Creative Writing Degree
Anyone who’s serious about the craft nowadays does two things: Writes consistently and seeks criticism. They don’t shy away from what their peers have to say about their work. No one’s perfect. You don’t have to look any further than the Strip to know that. Neither is your writing.
You may be thinking “OK, great, but where do I find that criticism?”
First, go to the places where fellow writers work. One such place would be The Writer’s Block on 6th Street in Las Vegas. It’s a bookstore, coffee shop, and writing space available to the public. The store is also a home to free workshops to students ages 5-18. They’re project-based, so you’ll learn how to develop poems, write plays, produce podcasts, and a lot more. It’s a great resource for any young person trying to work their creative muscle.
Another nice feature about The Writer’s Block is that it hosts readings and signings from authors on a consistent basis. Jean Kyoung Frazier, author of “Pizza Girl” stopped by in mid-October of 2022, as well as prose writer Wendy Wimmer.
What about coffee shops? Well, two stand out. One is for writers that feed off the activity around them, while the other is for those who prefer a quieter tone:
- Sunrise Coffee is where the action is. While offering plenty of seating, it gets pretty busy throughout the day. Frequented by remote workers, UNLV students, and artists alike, the place offers some killer vegan and vegetarian food options as well. The place is usually packed.
- Mothership Coffee Roasters is simply lovely. Honestly, it’s one of the most placid environments in the city, so it’s a good choice if you like to write with a little peace and quiet.
You also have the option to join a writer’s group before joining a BFA or MFA program. Think of a writer’s group as a prerequisite to university: It’ll prepare you to receive and (most importantly) act on constructive criticism.
- Henderson Writers Group: Started in 2001, HWG is a non-profit organization that facilitates networking and critiquing resources for aspiring writers. It holds meetings Mondays and Wednesdays, and also hosts the Las Vegas Writers Conference. Membership is only $50 per year.
- Las Vegas Writers Group: These folks meet on the third Thursday of every month to offer critique on each other’s work and to connect with publishing opportunities. The goal is simple: help people become better writers and get published.
- High Sierra Writers: Founded in 2012, High Sierra Writers is the child of two dissolved groups: Unnamed Writers’ Group and Purple Sage Writers. While the latter focused on craft development, the former taught writers how to market themselves and their work, as well as navigate the publishing industry. High Sierra hopes to take the best of both worlds.
Writing Colleges in Nevada Offering Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing Provide a Path to Becoming a Writer
So, you get your feet wet. You accept constructive criticism, and adjust your work accordingly. You’ll develop relationships with writers that will last a lifetime, but maybe you want that extra edge; the factor that’s going to get you in front of a publishing agent. Between becoming the best writer you can be and constructing relationships with the right people in the industry, a creative writing degree program is a no-brainer.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Other Bachelor’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Nevada
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
Accreditation: NWCCU
Degree: Bachelor – BA
Public School
- English-Creative Writing
University of Nevada-Reno
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
Accreditation: NWCCU
Degree: Bachelor – BA
Public School
- Creative Writing
Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Other Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Nevada
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
Accreditation: NWCCU
Degree: Master – MFA
Public School
- Creative Writing (International Focus track, Peace Corps track)
University of Nevada-Reno
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
Accreditation: NWCCU
Degree: Master – MFA
Public School
- Creative Writing (Children and Young Adults, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry)